Bandai doesn't make this kit but that's not enough to stop us!
#1/144 Nataku Custom
green leaf
Here's the starting point: the HGAC Shenlong. It already has a lot of the geometry we need.
Next I start to bring in parts from the 1998 Nataku Custom kit. The skirt armor fit well with a ball joint swap, but the arms are going to be a problem.
I had to use the shoulder joint from the HGAC Wing Zero to mount the shoulder armor, which actually turned out to be very helpful wtih the bicep armor later on.
So now our next challenge: the feet
The feet from the HG Nataku Custom are a lot taller than the HGAC Shenlong feet, but they're clamshell and don't have as much detail as I'd like.
I 3D modelled a new foot. You can see all the rejects on the right side of that photo 😄
Looking good!
You can also see that I've finished up the forearm and shoulder armor fit. I wanted the forearm armor to be removable for painting, so I had to remove all the guts from the parts from the 1998 kit.
The result slid over the HGAC shenlong forearm very well, which served as a proportional check.
I wasn't originally going to change the knees, but the Shenlong knees look very different from the Katoki design of the Nataku Custom...I knew I had to change something about them
This was my first try...I added straight parts to the underside of the Shenlong knees.
It wasn't quite right!
I also swapped out the biceps, so the proportions were correct...but there was something about those knees that was bugging me.
So, I did another round of 3D modeling in Fusion and came up with this
This design only took 3 tries to get right. I had an idea of what I needed and I was easily able to make it happen.
Same with the chest "rings"--nailed it on the second try
Note that the V-fin is from the HGAC Wing Zero. The one from the original kit didn't have nearly enough detail
I would have had to rebuild it from scratch.
Next I sawed off the bottom of the side skirts to better match the Katoki style.
Next was the backpack: The Shenlong's backpack is kind of built into the body and so I needed to use the 1998 parts, instead. I had to hollow it out to get the level of detail I wanted, then I threw on a set of old verniers I had lying around. Maybe these verners are too big, but I like the way they look!
That's the bulk of the build, next is painting.
Primed everything black in preparation for pre-shading. I know that's controversial...I used to tell people never to pre-shade with black, but I think it fits the 90's aesthetic of the Wing EW kits.
I had a lot of trouble picking greens. Nothing on the market made me happy, so I mixed both the dark and light greens for this build.
Also, I used odenkan super chrome covered with MODO T-010 gold for the yellow/gold parts to try to match the style on the box art. All those Wing kits were using gold instead of yellow back in the 90s.
The gloss test-fit looks exactly the way I imagined it would!
Note that my test-fits are almost always glossy. Gloss clear-coats scratch less than matte coats, and I also need the finish to be glossy for decals and panel lining.
The final kit will be matte.
I'm using a lot of different decal sheets to try to match the Katoki design. Luckily I got these discounted at my local shop, otherwise my decal budget would be more than my mortgage.
urban dagger
Absolutely beautiful. Always wanted the MG but yours looks like an even better hybrid of the designs.
green leaf
elder shadow
Absolutely killer and awesome
green leaf
It's standing now!
The dragons are going to take a bit more time. I had to get more decals for those.
pale hornetBOT
HEY LOOK AT ME @green leaf! I JUST MADE YOU level 30 !
green leaf
Decals, flat coat, everything
green leaf
The v-fin broke after assembly
I did my best to repair it but it's not going to be perfect
green leaf
sometimes these things happen
green leaf
I've done my best to repair it, but it isn't perfect
This will be our little secret
And there we have the 3D printed trident
Gotta do our best with what we have
I think this project is nearly complete
green leaf
Needs some touch-ups on the head and then some on the inside of the shoulders...and I think it will be done!
green leaf
I'm actually finding this one really hard to photograph!
I did the touch-ups on the head, but I can't seem to find lighting that does the gold justice
Normally the only true metallics I use on builds are for the inner frame, so this is different and new (and scary)
buoyant moat
I did the touch-ups on the head, but I can't seem to find lighting that does the...
Using a diffuser screen? Aluminum foil for reflected light?
green leaf
Ooooh that's a good idea!
loud raptor
Normally the only true metallics I use on builds are for the inner frame, so thi...
Also if you want to use any of my lightning or wanna bring it for photos let me know
green leaf
Also if you want to use any of my lightning or wanna bring it for photos let me ...
Dude I could really use your help
I can bring on Wednesday
loud raptor
🫡
